Feng Ming walked behind his master, the soft crunch of leaves beneath their feet swallowed by the silence of the ancient forest. Rays of sunlight filtered through the dense canopy above, casting long shadows over their path. The atmosphere was serene, yet heavy with unsaid truths.
After some time, Feng Ming finally broke the silence.
"Master," he asked quietly, "what is the true difference between following a Supreme Dao and one of the lesser paths?
Is it just greater combat power?"
His master didn't turn around. He continued walking, hands clasped behind his back, as if waiting for the question to settle in the air. Then, he spoke his voice calm, but laden with meaning.
"No, you still have not understood."
His pace remained steady, but his words fell like thunder in Feng Ming's heart.
"The Dao is not simply a means to increase your strength.
It is a mirror one that reflects you.
When you walk the Eternal Way, your Dao is the boots beneath your feet.
Without them, you bleed with every step.
And the road ahead is littered with blades."
Feng Ming's eyes widened slightly. He listened, each word searing itself into his soul.
"As long as a cultivator bears karma," his master continued, "he will encounter those hidden blades.
They may come in many forms inner demons, regrets, attachments, love and hatred, vengeance, fame, or even wealth.
Without a Dao to anchor you, to shield you, you will falter.
You may slow down or worse, stop entirely.
And in a world where the road never halts for anyone, being left behind is death itself."
His master's steps paused for a breath. He glanced over his shoulder, eyes deep as the abyss.
"Understand this: the Eternal Way waits for no one.
To fall behind is to place your life and death in the hands of others."
They continued walking.
"Some may find that comprehending a lesser Dao suits them more than forcing a Supreme Dao.
Others may be destined to walk a Supreme Path from the start.
But no one path is greater what matters is compatibility.
And conviction."
Then, his tone shifted, darker, more solemn.
"But there is a second path."
Feng Ming looked up.
"If your comprehension is lacking then forge an unbreakable Dao Heart."
The words reverberated through the forest like the toll of a distant bell.
"A Dao Heart that does not waver.
One that remains unmoved by storms, by temptation, by despair.
A heart that does not kneel to the blades upon the road,
But crushes them beneath its steps."
His master's eyes turned distant, as if seeing a path long buried in the folds of time.
"For some, this is easy. For others the most impossible of trials.
But it always comes down to your heart."
He turned fully now, facing Feng Ming. His expression was solemn, yet not unkind.
"You may not have found your Dao yet.
And yes, many have already overtaken you.
But you have taken the first step."
He placed a hand on Feng Ming's shoulder.
"What happens next depends entirely on your heart, child."
Feng Ming didn't reply. There were no words to offer.
Only silence.
He bowed his head slightly, his eyes thoughtful, and continued walking behind his master into the unknown, into the path of trials, and perhaps into the shape of the Dao that was meant to be his.